AB0159 HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AT TIKUR ANBESSA SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL. A HOSPITAL- BASED CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY
Authors: B. A. Adugna
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2022)

Background Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic disorder associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Patients with active RA suffer from significant decline in functional capacity and many become work disabled within five years, from onset of symptoms despite treatment. Measurable outcome of these can be done with the help of HRQoL questionnaires. There is a need to study the HRQoL in RA patients, as there is no available data in Ethiopia. Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate HRQoL in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and factors associated with it. Methods A Cross sectional study was conducted at Rheumatology Clinic in Tikur Anbessa specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from June1 to October 31. Data was collected using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire and data extraction form. Data was entered and it was analyzed using SPSS Version 26. To identify associated factors in Health related quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, bivariable and multivariable analysis were done. Statistical significance was considered at 5%, and beta weight with 95% confidence interval was used to present the estimates of the strength of the association. Results A total of 213 participants were included in this study. The mean age of participants was 44.7(±14). Majority 191(89.7%) of participants were female. In this study all the 8 domains of RAND 36 are reduced. The mean value of two scales from physical component and one scale from the mental component are below 50. These are Role limitation due to physical problems, General Health Perception and Role limitation due to emotional problems. Both summary score are affected with the PCS more affected than MCS. The multivariable analysis identified rural residence and modified health assessment questionnaire score as factors associated with PCS. For each shift of a patient from urban to rural residence, the PCS decreases by 9.1. For each one score increase in modified health assessment questionnaire score, the PCS score decreases by 26.25. Whereas factors associated with MCS are rural residence, adherence score, MHAQ score, peptic ulcer disease, and rheumatoid nodule. For each shift of residence from urban to rural, the MCS decreases by 15.2 . For each one score increase in adherence score, the mental component score increases by For each one score increase in MHAQ score, the MCS decreases by 14.3. For each shift of peptic ulcer disease from absent to present, the mental component score decreases by 16.Finally, for each shift of rheumatoid nodule from absent to present, the MCS by 20.8. Conclusion This study showed that Rheumatoid Arthritis has a significant effect on the Health Related quality of life of patients. Rural residence and functional disability was the most influencing factor on both the physical and mental function. Routine assessment of the Health Related quality of life in those patients is recommended to detect and monitor the impact of the disease and its medications on different aspects the patient’s life. References [1]Sri Preethy N N1 SCSRJJTGRKRMT. Study of health related quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis patients. J Pharm Res. 2015;9(3):194–200. [2]Matcham F, Scott IC, Rayner L, Hotopf M, Kingsley GH, Norton S, et al. The impact of rheumatoid arthritis on quality-of-life assessed using the SF-36: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum [Internet]. 2014;44(2):123–30. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2014.05.001 [3]Ruta DA, Hurst NP, Kind P, Hunter M, Stubbings A. Measuring health status in British patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Reliability, validity and responsiveness of the short form 36-item health survey (SF-36). Br J Rheumatol. 1998;37(4):425–36. [4]Uhlig T, Haavardsholm EA, Kvien TK. Comparison of the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) and the modified HAQ (MHAQ) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology. 2006;45(4):454–8. Disclosure of Interests None declared